The Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, reiterated his full support for the introduction of a European Social Security Number at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday 18 June.
Reacting to the content of a resolution on the plight of seasonal and cross-border workers at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Schmit gave his “full” support to such a perspective.
In a joint resolution put to the vote on the same day (the results of which were not yet known at the time of going to press), MEPs say that the introduction of a digital exchange system would provide better protection for seasonal and cross-border workers, all while combating undeclared work. They call on the Commission to launch a comprehensive impact assessment on the creation of a digital European Social Security Number.
In the vote on the amendments, the European Parliament supported (420 in favour, 241 against, 14 abstentions) the amendment by the Greens/EFA Group which stresses the need to protect the use of personal data in connection with the use of the said number.
The question of a European Social Security Number is becoming more acute again after it was abandoned by the previous 'Juncker' Commission. The difficult negotiations on the regulation on the coordination of social security systems and the complex situation in which seasonal and cross-border workers found themselves during the pandemic are encouraging legislators to get back to work on this.
During a recent debate in the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, the Director of the relevant Commission services (DG EMPL) confirmed the European institution’s interest in presenting a specific proposal. According to him, the European Social Security Number will initially concern only mobile workers, currently around 17 million people (see EUROPE 12507/22).
Social dumping
In their resolution, MEPs call for national and cross-border labour inspections to be strengthened, for the housing of cross-border and seasonal workers to be decoupled from their pay, and for the Commission to check whether EU legislation is adapted to pandemic situations.
Furthermore, to the dismay of the far right, the Parliament calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that non-Member State nationals receive the same treatment as EU nationals.
Finally, the GUE/NGL Group's amendment, noting that the pandemic has exacerbated ‘social dumping’ in addition to job insecurity, was narrowly adopted (339 votes in favour, 317 against, 18 abstentions). This adoption has displeased certain right-wing and Central and Eastern European MEPs. On the other hand, the S&D Group's amendment calling on Member States to prohibit subcontracting, so that employers take responsibility for their employees, was rejected.
The final result was expected to be known at the end of the evening. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)